Walking/hiking stick with particle dispenser

ABSTRACT

A load dispenser located at the distal end of an elongated hollow tube allows for convenient refilling of the dispenser from the proximal end of the load release mechanism. The length of the tube is dimensioned to serve as a walking stick as well.

REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of Provisional Application (Application Serial No. 60/418,428, filed Oct. 15, 2002, and applicant claim priority therefrom.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a walking or hiking stick or pole that can provide greater balance, support, thrust, and other aid, and in particular a hiking stick or pole configured to dispense particles such as birdseed, planting seed, fertilizer, insecticides, and the like.

PRIOR ART

[0003] Walking and hiking poles are well known in the art, frequently such apparatus include enhanced features such as telescoping shafts and adjustable handles, Also there has also been a variety of dispensers for bird seed and the like are well known.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention is based on the recognition that a load dispensing system located at the distal end of a length of hollow tubing provides for a convenient location of a refill port and load activation control while providing for a walking support as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus with the principles of this invention.

[0006]FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged cross sections of the apparatus as FIG. 1 showing the particle load section of the device.

[0007]FIG. 4 shows the dispenser in the particle retaining position.

[0008]FIG. 5 shows the dispenser in the particle dispensing position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009]FIG. 1 shows a load dispenser, shown upright and including a bottom or proximal and a top or distal end. A load dispenser is located at the proximal end and the distal end serves as a refill port as well becomes clear from the following explanation in connection with FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

[0010]FIGS. 2 and 3 show a tubular shaft 1, with a load funnel 2 having a particle 4 entry opening 5, affixed onto the tubular shaft 1. A removable cap 3, is on top of the open wide neck of the load funnel 2 to seal funnel back-flow. With the cap 3 removed, and the internal area open 5, particles 4, may be loaded through opening 5, into the hollow inner length of the tubular shaft 1 and load funnel 2. An anti-slip handgrip 6 is affixed onto tubular shaft 1.

[0011]FIGS. 4 and 5 show an adjustable, spring-loaded, particle dose dispenser comprised of an inner load body 8, with the bottom 9 being closed. The center 10 of the load body 8 is open, as well as a slot-like opening (s) 11, protruding through the inner wall 12, and outer wall 13. Affixed to the bottom of the closed end 9, of the load body 8, is a flow stop seal 14 that is larger in circumference than the bottom 9 of the load body 8. The flow stop seal 14 has a slot like opening (s) 15, which extends from the bottom edge 9 of the load body 8 to the outer edge 17 of the flow stop seal 14. With the flow stop seal 14 is resting against the release body's flanged surface 16 particle 4 flow stops as shown in FIG. 3, and particles 4 can only be released when the particle dose dispenser is in the particles release position 4. The upper end of the load body 8 has an annular flange 18 to seat the compression spring 19. The release housing 20 has an inwardly protruding annular flange 21 to seat the compression spring 19. The compression spring 19 rests between the outer wall 22 of the load body 8 and the inner wall 23 of the release housing 20, a slip fit clearance allows the compression spring 19 to have movement. The mating surfaces 24 of the load body 7, and the release housing 20 are slip fit. The load body 8 and the compression spring 19 are placed into the release housing 20, and made captive by the affixing of the flow stop seal 14 to the bottom 9 of the load body 8. The compression spring 19 maintains pressure, forcing the load body 8 in one direction and the outer release housing 20 in an opposing direction, stopping the release of particles 4. Surfaces 26, the inner wall of the release housing 20 and the outer wall of the tubular shaft 1, are a slip fit to each other. The upper, outer wall of the load body 8 is affixed 7 to the inner bottom wall of the tubular shaft 1. The release housing 20 has a circumflexing anti-slip cap 27 affixed to the periphery of the bottom outer wall of the release housing 20, with the cap open to the extent of the bottom inner wall of the load body 8. Spaced above the release housing 20 and affixed to the tubular shaft is inner ring 29. The outer wall of the inner ring 29 is threaded 30. The outer ring 31 has an internal thread matched to the thread 30 on the outer wall of the inner ring 29. The outer ring 31 when screwed against the release housing 20 forces the release housing 20 away from the inner ring 29, compressing the compression spring 19, limiting the particle dose. At the bottom of the anti-slip cap 27 and detachably affixed 33 to the lower inner wall of the release housing 20 is a spiked button 32, used as a walking or hiking balance aid. In addition the spiked button may be replaced with other accessory devices such as garden picking, turning, and planting devices. While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus comprising an elongated hollow tube having a proximal and distal end, said apparatus having located at said proximal end a particle dispenser responsive to a load release mechanism for releasing particles therein, said apparatus including a refill port at said distal end, said load release mechanism being activated by a mechanism also located near said distal end.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 including a funnel at said distal end.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 including a removable cap for said funnel.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 including an anti-slip handgrip at said distal end.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 3 including an anti-slip handgrip below said funnel.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 1 including a spiked button at the bottom of the particle dispenser which may be substituted with other devices, such as gardening devices.
 7. A walking/hiking stick or pole, as in claim 1 with an affixed particle dispenser at the bottom of the tubular shaft.
 8. A walking/hiking stick or pole, as in claim 1 with a particle dispenser that releases one particle dose at a time.
 9. A walking/hiking stick or pole, as in claim 1 with a particle dispenser with an adjustment device that is settable to release a controlled amount of particles per dose at a time.
 10. A walking/hiking stick or pole, as in claim 1 with a particle dispenser that is hand operated and spring activated.
 11. A walking/hiking stick or pole, as in claim 1 with a particle dispenser with a dose loading chamber (s).
 12. A walking/hiking stick or pole, as in claim 1 with a particle dispenser with a particle flow containment seal.
 13. A walking/hiking stick or pole, as in claim 1 with a detachable containment at the bottom of the device for a spiked button or other device.
 14. A walking/hiking stick or pole, as in claim 1 with a detachable spiked button at the bottom of the particle dispenser. 